Opinion & Essays
Clear-sighted and well informed opinion on the culture of our past, present and future
Black Sky Thinking
How to Talk to your Son about Dangerous Extremist Influencers
With TV drama Adolescence and Andrew Tate currently in the news, author Craig Johnson asks how the toxic ideology extremist influencers became so widespread and offers practical advice to help young people affected. CW: Reference to sexual assault and violence against women. Contains mild spoilers for Adolescence. Stills courtesy of Netflix
Anniversary
Keepin’ It Dirty: A celebration of ODB’s Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Cian Traynor celebrates the 30th birthday of a unique and brilliant album and re-appraises a hip hop anomaly by speaking to some of those who knew its creator, Ol' Dirty Bastard, the best. This feature was originally published on 30 March 2015
Black Sky Thinking
Three Album Run: How Krautrock Never Bettered Can’s Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi & Future Days
Darran Anderson sifts through all of the glorious rubble of German experimental music, psychedelic rock, avant funk and elektronische of the late 1960s onwards to hail an unbeatable trinity. All photographs by Maria Jefferis
Black Sky Thinking
Essays, investigation and opinion on today’s cultural landscape
Black Sky Thinking
You Say ‘Taygo’, I Say ‘Tahgo’… Opening Can’s Pronunciation Can of Worms
Jennifer Lucy Allan lifts the lid on the complexity of countercultural pronunciation when just having a stab in the dark isn't an option
Black Sky Thinking
TikTokin’ in the Freed World: Social Media’s New Payola Scandal
The scandal of artists paying DJs for radio plays might seem a relic of the past but, says music biz expert Eamonn Forde, news that influencers might demand a percentage of artist royalties in return for exposure gives this corruption a grim contemporary twist
Black Sky Thinking
Hope Sings Eternal: Can Listening to Music Help you Cheat Death?
Tech whoppers the world over are obsessed with eternal life. But, argues Professor John Tregoning of Imperial College, scientific research increasingly suggests that the music we love can have a huge boost to our immune system and health
Black Sky Thinking
TikTokin’ in the Freed World: Social Media’s New Payola Scandal
The scandal of artists paying DJs for radio plays might seem a relic of the past but, says music biz expert Eamonn Forde, news that influencers might demand a percentage of artist royalties in return for exposure gives this corruption a grim contemporary twist
Black Sky Thinking
Hope Sings Eternal: Can Listening to Music Help you Cheat Death?
Tech whoppers the world over are obsessed with eternal life. But, argues Professor John Tregoning of Imperial College, scientific research increasingly suggests that the music we love can have a huge boost to our immune system and health
Low Culture Essay
Illuminating treasured cultural artefacts
Low Culture Essay
The Low Culture Essay: Jeanette Leech on Elastica’s The Menace
In this month's essay, Jeanette Leech seeks to reclaim the legacy of Elastica's vastly underrated second album from prurient mutterings about drug addiction and the collapse of Britpop, celebrating Mark E. Smith collaborations and the birth of M.I.A.
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Ian Winwood on How Dead & Company Made Him Love Jam Bands
This month, Ian Winwood writes about the process of his seduction into the patchouli smoke, hardcore fanbase and endless riffs n'widdles of the jam band scene
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Patrick McKemey on the Musical Architecture of SimCity
In this month's subscriber essay, Patrick McKemey eulogises the genre-melding soundtracks to the SimCity universe of games, sonic portals between the London suburbs and digital utopias built in his teenage bedroom
Low Culture Essay
The Low Culture Essay: Jeanette Leech on Elastica’s The Menace
In this month's essay, Jeanette Leech seeks to reclaim the legacy of Elastica's vastly underrated second album from prurient mutterings about drug addiction and the collapse of Britpop, celebrating Mark E. Smith collaborations and the birth of M.I.A.
Low Culture Essay
Low Culture Essay: Patrick McKemey on the Musical Architecture of SimCity
In this month's subscriber essay, Patrick McKemey eulogises the genre-melding soundtracks to the SimCity universe of games, sonic portals between the London suburbs and digital utopias built in his teenage bedroom
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Subscribe NowAnniversary
Spotlighting the impact of cultural landmarks
Anniversary
World Class: How Radiohead Gave Us The Bends
Though The Bends has since been overshadowed by what followed, its release 30 years ago found Radiohead on the cusp of stardom. Wyndham Wallace joins them on a journey from their early days to their inevitable worldwide breakthrough. This article was first published on 3 March 2015
Anniversary
40 Years On: The Sisters Of Mercy’s First And Last And Always Revisited
Julian Marszalek looks back four decades to the hit album that shouldn't have been and nearly wasn't. This feature was first published 16/03/2015
Anniversary
World Class: How Radiohead Gave Us The Bends
Though The Bends has since been overshadowed by what followed, its release 30 years ago found Radiohead on the cusp of stardom. Wyndham Wallace joins them on a journey from their early days to their inevitable worldwide breakthrough. This article was first published on 3 March 2015
Beyond The Hits
A deeper dive beyond the charts
Beyond The Hits
Stronger Than Pride: Beyond The Hits Of Sade
Sade superfan Alex Macpherson celebrates the release of a career-spanning box set by selecting lesser known gems from their back catalogue
Most Popular
Previously Read
Baker's Dozen
Beauty and Sadness: Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast’s Favourite Albums
Michelle Zauner, driving force behind Japanese Breakfast, takes David Chiu through her life in 13 records, from foundational encounters with Motown, the beauty of Pacific Northwestern indie, and the inspiration she found in Mount Eerie and Joanna Newsom
